Rishi Sunak has been blasted for appointing an MP as a new minister in the Home Office who took the knee for Black Lives Matter in 2020.
The decision to appoint the pro-BLM MP to the important job suggests Mr Sunak is further doubling down on his decision to abandon common sense Conservatism in favour of “Cameroon” centrism.
Laura Farris, the MP for Newbury, was given her first ministerial role yesterday after being elected in 2019.
At 10.30 pm last night, Downing Street announced that the King had been pleased to appoint her as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, jointly in the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice.
The MP, a daughter and niece to two Tory MPs, also worked for Hilary Clinton prior to being elected.
The appointment has now been met with astonishment after it emerged Ms Farris took part in pro-Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.
When the BLM protests were sparked in Britain following the murder of George Floyd, her local paper splashed with an image of Ms Farris ‘taking the knee’ at an “anti-racism” event in a local park.
Ms Farris joined “hundreds of others… to take a stand against racism and inequality”.
She said: “I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a great event and very well organised”.
“There was appropriate social distancing in place and overall I think it had a very respectful tone.
“I think it’s really important that public representatives are there with the community showing their support”.
However, her public support for Black Lives Matter has caused consternation this afternoon.
One Tory MP on the right of the party told the Express: “We all remember when she took the knee. It was a shocking error of judgment and many of us remember it vividly”.
“Many of our traditional supporters and new voters will look at in despair.”
Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK, has said her appointment shows that “woke Sunak” is taking the Tories “ever left with BLM-supporting new minister at Home Office”.
“I doubt she wants to stop the boats and stop mass immigration.”
Former MEP and political commentator Patrick O’Flynn demanded: “Please someone, make the madness stop!”
In 2020 after BLM protestors tore down a statue of Edward Colston, Ms Farris demanded the Home Office produce guidance to “create uniform principles so law-abiding citizens objecting to statues that their complaints are heard”.
The appointment of Ms Farris will compound concerns Mr Sunak has watered down both his policy and rhetoric on cultural issues and small boats following the sacking of Suella Braverman yesterday.
Last night Tory MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns said: “I support Suella Braverman. Sacked for speaking the truth. Bad call by Rishi caving in to the Left.”
